Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and Jarabacoa Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and Jarabacoa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,117 per month in Santo Domingo vs $717 in Jarabacoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,218 in Jarabacoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,590 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,718 in Jarabacoa, rent included.

Santo Domingo costs about 56% more than Jarabacoa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Santo Domingo and Jarabacoa are more affordable than the global median – Santo Domingo 17% lower, Jarabacoa 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.28 DOP 499

$8.56 DOP 516

-3.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 DOP 3,074

$51.9 DOP 3,126

-1.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 DOP 442

$7.57 DOP 456

-3.04%

Cappuccino

$2.62 DOP 158

$2.65 DOP 160

-1.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 DOP 61.9

$1.00 DOP 60.1

3.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 DOP 48.02

$0.84 DOP 50.4

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 DOP 155

$2.49 DOP 150

3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 DOP 312

$5.04 DOP 304

2.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 DOP 83.8

$1.39 DOP 83.7

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 DOP 103

$1.81 DOP 109

-4.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 DOP 94.5

$1.49 DOP 89.7

5.37%

Eggs

$2.20 DOP 133

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.08 DOP 426

$7.04 DOP 424

0.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.40 DOP 385

$6.43 DOP 387

-0.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.13 DOP 671

$11.11 DOP 669

0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 DOP 191

$3.22 DOP 194

-1.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 56.2

$0.92 DOP 55.6

1.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 DOP 182

$2.89 DOP 174

4.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 DOP 116

$1.92 DOP 115

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 DOP 153

$2.55 DOP 153

-0.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 DOP 145

$2.32 DOP 140

3.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 DOP 68.6

$1.13 DOP 67.8

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 DOP 54.1

$0.98 DOP 58.7

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.79 DOP 349

$5.67 DOP 341

2.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 DOP 698

$11.51 DOP 693

0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 DOP 165

$2.70 DOP 163

1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 DOP 195

$3.13 DOP 188

3.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 DOP 34.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.8 DOP 4,084

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 DOP 202

$3.39 DOP 204

-0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 DOP 133

$2.22 DOP 134

-0.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.76 DOP 347

$6.08 DOP 366

-5.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 DOP 80.6

$1.27 DOP 76.4

5.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.5K DOP 1.6M

$26.8K DOP 1.6M

-1.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K DOP 1.9M

$31.4K DOP 1.9M

2.12%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$75.6 DOP 4,555

$76.2 DOP 4,591

-0.79%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.94 DOP 1,502

$25.02 DOP 1,507

-0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.50 DOP 2,198

$35.51 DOP 2,139

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.49 DOP 2,198

$20.68 DOP 1,245

76.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.15 DOP 852

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 DOP 399

$6.69 DOP 403

-1.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$267 DOP 16.1K

$271 DOP 16.3K

-1.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,171 DOP 492.2K

$8,209 DOP 494.5K

-0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 DOP 3,635

$61.0 DOP 3,672

-1.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 DOP 3,128

$52.4 DOP 3,156

-0.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 DOP 5,763

$95.5 DOP 5,751

0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,905

$114 DOP 6,837

1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 DOP 34.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 DOP 16.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 DOP 69.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 DOP 41.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,206 DOP 132.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 DOP 72.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 DOP 37.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.9

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Santo Domingo: April 21, 2026

Last update for Jarabacoa: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $572 in Santo Domingo versus $0 in Jarabacoa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51 in Santo Domingo versus $52 in Jarabacoa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $247 – making Santo Domingo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Santo Domingo vs Jarabacoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santo Domingo is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,675 per month in Santo Domingo and $1,075 in Jarabacoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,117 in Santo Domingo and $717 in Jarabacoa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Santo Domingo and $271 in Jarabacoa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jarabacoa, where all-in costs run around $717, than in Santo Domingo at $1,117. In Jarabacoa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santo Domingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jarabacoa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jarabacoa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santo Domingo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.